Gyroscopic control.



J. S. LANG.

emosoorw CONTROL.

APPLIOATION FILED APILBB, N12

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J; S. LANG. GYB.0SGOPIG CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED APR. 26,1912.

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GYROSGOPIG CONTROL.

APPLICATION IILBD APR. 26, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1914.

' owns s. LANG, or BQSTON, nessaonusnrrs.

ernoscorle coarser."

Specification of Letters Patent.

To-all whomit mag concern:

v Bef-i known that I, JAMES; S. LANG, of

may be maintained in or restored to a con-" Boston.,. inethe county of Suffolk andState of .Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful lm-. provement inGyroscopic Controls, of which thefollowing is a fulh clear, and exact.description, reference being had to the accompanyin'g drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

-My present invention comprises for. its subject-matter a gyroscopicapparatus essentially: adapted for, effecting the automatic control of flying machines or other unstable machines and by which means, such machines dition or state of normal andproper equi? librium 'or balance.v j A gyroscope like that to whlch my invention'relates is one carried. by a supporting frame and plvotally supported. to hang ln-a normal position of suspension, and when em- 3 becomes a base of resistance against which forces may act or react tending to correct thedisplaced position of the machine and restore it to its normal and proper position.

The; gyroscope tends to maintain a normal and constant position of suspension by reason of HS rotation, as is customary n such devices; Itmay, however, become itself displaced from such position when it will no longer properly perform the functions for which it is, designed and it becomes necessary that it be restored to its normal position of suspension, or,- in other Words, maintained in such position. 3

. The essential object of my invention is to provide an apparatus by which the gyro scopedesigned for the purposes above described, may be driven by the impelling force ;of jets of gaseous fluid, as for example,

, the exhaust gases froman internal combustion engine, and to apply these gases to the gyroscope in such manner that the gases will notonly operate torotate the gyroscope without displacing. it-from its. normal position 'ofsuspe'nsion, but will also operate, in

' t imaran filed April as, 11912 Serial No. 693,279.

- pon the machine bev ally thereon.

Patented May 122', I

case of displacement of the gyroscope a the manner of its application to restore it to its normal and proper suspended position, thereby tending to maintain the gyroscope in such position at all times. e

The invention can best be'seen stood by reference 'to thedrawings, fin hich I. 1 I

Figure l showsthe apparatus in-end 619*.

vation. Fig. 2 shows the same in side elevav andundertion. 1 Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal-see tion of a portion of the apparatus or maiir valve casing and valve contained therein; through wh ch the operating fluid is directed to the gyroscope. Fig. at is a view partly in .side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section of the valvular apparatuswor pilot valve by which the supply; of gaseous fluid is initially controlled through. the3in-= :fluence of a. pendulum, as will hereinafter be explained Fig. 5 is a plan of the gyroscope,

looking at the same from the top side there.-' i

of, and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic-section of parts, showing the manner in which jthe gaseous fluid is applied to the gvro'scope for turning it.

scope. I 2 1S 3. casing to which the gaseous fluid :under pressure is admitted and thenceex-fi polled for rotating the gyroscope and' con- In the drawings :1 represents the gyroi I ng the suspended position thereof as will hereinafter be explained, the casing furnishmg also a support from which the gyro:-'.

scope is hung, the ends of the casing being formed to provide 'trunnions 3, 3; The cas'-.

ing is fixed tov a frame 4 whichmay repre sent for purposesof illustration a portion i '95 shown), the casing being horizontally arofv the frame of a flying machine (not ranged to lie within the main axis of saida frame of the flying machine or axis parallel therewith when the frame isin its normal The gyroscope is carried by a frame 5 which hangs from the trunnions 3, 3 of the and proper balanced position.

casing 2 by straps 6, 6 which pass around-e its respective trunnions and provide bear--. lngs by which the frame 5 may turn pivot= 2105 The gyroscope is arranged upon a spindle 7 which turns within bear-,- 1

ings 8, 8 on the frame'5. Then the frame is occupying a normal suspended position.-

the spindle -will have a vertical extension.

and the gyroscope accordingly turn On- Elai-e vertical axis'inahorizontalplane. j

also of the frame 5 carrying it just adjacent the line of the buckets, but their disposition is such that they will not interfere with the frame 5 so as to prevent thecasing 2 to which the nozzles are secured and frame 4 to which the casing is securd'turning with respect to the frame 5 and gyroscope carried b it when occupying a normal suspende position. The form and arrangement of the nozzles is also such that the gaseous fluid issuing therefrom, respectively, will issue in reverse directions or in the directions the gyroscope isturning, at the respective points, on opposite sides thereof, where the jets of fluid impinge against its buckets. The points where the jets impinge against the buckets should also be either in or very near the points where a plane passing through the axis of the frame 5 carrying the gyroscope and also through the axis on whic the roscope is turning, would cut the same. Tn other words, th disposition and arrangement of the nozzles With respect to the gyroscope or pivoted frame 5 carrying it and their axis of suspension are suchethata jetnlfrom either nozzle will opcrate both to rotate the gyroscope and also pivotally move it and the frame 5 in the direction in which the jet is moving around their axis of suspension. Inasmuch as the jets are moving in reverse directions and the gyroscope and frame will accordingly be pivotally moved thereby in reverse directions with respect to their axis of suspension depending as the jet is issuing from one or the other of the nozzles and operating to turn the gyroscope. When, however, jets from both nozzles are operating to turn the gyroscope, then the force of the two jets issuing therefrom being equal in' amount but opposite in direction, will accordingly neutralize one another in their tendency to pivotally turn the gyroscope and frame 5 around the axis of their suspension, and the gyroscope and frame will therefore maintain a normal position of suspension although the jets from the respective nozzles are operating to rotate the gyroscope. This condition of equality continues as long as the jets from both nozzles are operating to turn the gyroscope. When, however, the force of the-jet from one nozzle or the other is diminished or cut off then the jet from the other nozzle.

continuing and no longer being neutralized,

will as above described tend to turn the gyroscope and frame carrying it about the axis of its suspension in the direction in Y which the jet or the stronger jet is moving With the parts above described thus disposed and operating, it is apparent that the gyroscope may be rotated while occupying a normal position of suspension, and up case of displacement from such pos1t1on by 1t and its frame 5 turning around their axis of suspension, the gyroscope may be returned to its normal position by shutting off or lessen ing the strength of one of the jets tending to turn the same, when the other jet will op-.

erate to restore the gyroscope to its normal. position. Reference will accordlngly now be made to the manner in which this may be.

automatically accomplished.

The casing 2 is formed to provide a central chamber 14 into which the o crating fluid is introduced through the in ct pipe 15. The nozzles 12, 13 connect, respectively,l with this chamber through ports 17, 18 at opposite ends of the chamber. These ports .7

are controlled by valves 19, 20, respectively,-- and connected by a rod 21 by which the valves are moved in unison. valves 19, 20 are made cup-shaped and are arranged respectively to slide in the respective-ends of the casing 2 the interior walls Each of the 5 of which form bearings therefor. The form normal balanced position of these main valves is substantially as shown in Fig. 3

when both valves are removed from the recontinued to be admitted to the other. The 1 spective ports 17, 18 and the operating pres- 1 .upon the side of the frame 5 carrying the" gyroscope. This casing contains a sliding" pllot valve which acts to control the entry chambers 22, 23, for controlling the main valves. The casing 26 is an elongated casing, the ends thereof being designed to provide air-receiving chambers 27 5 28, respec- 31251. of compressed air to the pipes 2 1, 25, and.

suitable, source of supply I admitted to these respective chambers by way .of an inlet 29 and suitableby-pass 30 (see Fig. 1,)

connecting therewith. Extending inwardly from the chambers 27, 28, of the valve casing it is formed to provide the respective ports 31 and 32. which connect with an, en larged central chamber 33 which is open to the atmosphere by a slot or opening 34' formedin the bottom of the casing. i

u The. pilot valve itself consists of the respective head or end portions 35, 36, the contracted neck portions 37, 38 anda central body portion 39. The head or end'portions and the body portion of the jvalve are. of substantially the same si P and have-a sliding fit within the contracted portion of thecasing forming the respective ports- 31,32 therein. The, length of. the valve is such that whenit is in a'balanced central position as shown in Fig. 4 both the heads. 35, 36 of the valve; will lie Within the; re-. spectivechambers 27,, 28 of thecasing just beyond the .por.ts 31, 32'. The body 39 of the valve will then be in a position where the ends thereof will .fit in both ports 31, 32 and close the inner ends of these ports and chambers 27,28 from the central chamber 33 open to the atmosphere as aforesaid.

- hen .the valve is in thisposition the opera-tin pressure admitted through the inlet 29 an by-pass 30 to the respective chambers27, 28of the casing will pass around the respective headsorends of, the pilot valve into therespective ports .31, 32 by. the ,contracted portions 37, 38jof. the valve and thence to. the respective pipes 24,25, which connect with'the casing at the points of its ports. When, however, .therelative positions of the pilot valve and casing become changed, as for example by moving the valve within the casing, then and,,.in such event the supply ofpressure to the oneor the other of the pipes 24, 25 will be cut off depending upon the direction the pilotvalve lS IDOVBCl, for asthe valve is moved within the casing .one. head or-the other of the valve will draw into the one or the other ports 31, 32 and so will shut offthe air entering that port. Moreover, as one head of the valve draws into the ort adjacent to it. closing the port, the achacentcentral body portion 33 of the valvelentering thatport tv'i ll: draw out of the same allowing theacoin-pressed air .in the pipe connectingkthenewith and compression chamber with which the pipe connects to have outlet to .theiatmosphere by wayv of the central chamber and opening 34. -The relative position of the pilot-valve within its casing is controlled by a lover. or pendulum 40. It will be observed bye-reference to Fig. 1 that-the valve casing- 26 containing the pilot-valve is arranged crosswise A upon :thfe' side of the pivoted .fr'ame =5 carried by. it becoming-changed y g h YI' PQ- T e; di pes tie and arrangement of this casingand valve Within it is such also. that ,Whfifl, the pivoted frame. is in its normal and prop'er osit ion of suspension both the casingggan ,p lot valve .will occupy a horizontal osition", at"

right angles to the side lofjthe rarne. 5,; to'

which; the parts are-secured. i p

The weighted 1ever.\-40 is plvoted to; the side of .the frame at, a ,point,4 l. below,gthe

cas ng. and pil t valvehe e e -t e ai tamed in anormal upright vertical, position 'weight ,42 upon the end. of lower armthereof. The upper oipworking arm of the leverpasses upwardly thrbiigh'the openings 34 formed in the ,bottom 'ofthe casing 26 and enters. a socket 43 formed in the body of the pilot valve, thejend of the leverarm fitting loosely within this socket. I a,

.Thedisposition and arrangementxof the parts are such that .as long asthe. frame ;5

to which the weighted lever pivoted, maintains its normal and properwpp'sition the lever will operate to maintain thegpilot valve in a central balanced position within, its casing so that air admitted to passthrough the casing will be directed to enter both pipes 24, :25 and thereby be admitted to both compressionchambers 22,23 andaccordingly against both of the main valves 19, 20 and will operate to hold both ,ofthese valves in a balanced central position clear {of the ports 17, 18, so that the operating fluid admitted to the chamber .14." of the main casing 2.Will pass through these ports and thence through both nozzles 12, 1 3gto operatethe gyroscope without disturbing the normal suspended position thereof and its carryingframe 5 with respect to their axis ofsuspension as above described.

Upon the pivoted frame 5and yroscopes normal and proper positions of suspension to occupy inclined positions by the frame 5 turning pivotally upon the trunnions 3.;-

rom ,their forming its axis of suspension, the pilot 7 valve and overweighted lever 40fwil1iturn with it, but the'lev'er will continue to maintain a vertical position and-accordingly will actto move the pilotvalve within thevalve casing in one direction-or the other, depend- 1 cut upon the direction in which thepivoted frame-5 isturn'ecland accordingly the di-.

rection in which'thegyroscope is displaced. The resultant 'eifect is therefore obtained that as the pilot valve is moved-in its easing, air Will be shut off from one or the other of the pipes 24 25 and the" pressure removed from'gi; one of the compression chambers 22,-:i23iand-main valves 19, 20.

Pressure will continue to be admitted to the other compression chamber and main valve and will accordingly have theeffect of mov mg the ma1n -Val ves I19, '20 within theacasing 2, that valve against which the PIGSSHIQTCOII- tinues to be applied being moved to close the port controlled by it.,.and to shut the operating pressure/from one of the nozzles 12, 13. At the same time the other main valve will be moved to a more open position and the pressure will continue to pass through the other nozzle. In this connection it will be observed by reference to Fig.

1 1 together with Figs. 3 and 4, that the adaptation and arrangement of the parts Y are such that if the frame 5 and gyroscope have become displaced from their normal positions to the'right or in the direction of the nozzle 12, according to Fig. 1, then the lever or pendulum 4O retaining its normal vertical position, will become displaced to the left, moving the pilot valve to the right. This movement of the pilotvalve will cut off the air or pressure from the pipe 24; and oh amber 22 of the main casing, .the air therein becoming releasedtothe atmosphere. The

in parallel alinement with the frame 5 and will have returned the pilot valve to a central position where it allows the passage of air through both pipes 2 1,- 25, and accordingly to both compression chambers 22, 23.

.The main valves 19, 20 will then be in the position to which they have become displaced with the valve 20 shutting off pres sure from .the nozzle 13. The air comrcssed in chambers 22 23 bein er ual and opposite in direction, will tend to exert no force upon the valves to restore them to their original positions where the operating pressure is admitted to both nozzles. This is effected, however, by the operation of the springs 19, 20 which become operative to restore the main valves to their original balanced positions'and to hold them in such positions when the operating pressure admitted to both nozzles will tend no longer to pivotally turn the frame 5 and gyroscope. but rather hold the same in their normal position of suspension to which they have become restored.

In case the frame 5 and gyroscope carried by it have become displaced from their normal positions of suspension in the direction of the nozzle 13, according to Fig. 1, then theoperation of the parts will be just the reverse of. that above described. The pilot valve will'be moved :to theleftpair will be cut off from the compression chamber 23 and the main valves moved in the direction of this chamber cutting off the operating pressure from the nozzle 12. The pressure continuing through the nozzle 13 will then operate to restore the frame 5 and gyroscope to the normal position of suspension, after which the springs will act to restore the main valves to their. original balanced positions. I

It will be understood that it is desirable to use air for actuating the valves at a higher pressure than the air or gases employed for driving the gyroscope.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United'-States 1. In a gyroscopic apparatus, a gyroscope adapted to be driven by the application of a gaseous fluid -pressure, thereto, a pivoted support bearing said gyroscope, means whereby gaseous flui'd'under pressure may be applied thereto, and means for controlling the application of such pressure to the gyroscope .for rotating it whereby it may exert no influence to pivotally disturb the suspended position thereof, or at other times may exert an influence to disturb and pivotally' movethe same, dependent upon the position of its suspension.

2. In a gyroscopic apparatus, a gyroscope adapted to be rotated by the application of a gaseous fluid prgssure thereto, a pivotedsupport bearing said gyroscope, means whereby a gaseous fluid pressure may be applied thereto for rotating the same, and means for controlling the application of such pressure to the gyroscope for rotating it whereby it may exert no influence to pivotally move the same when the gyroscope is occupying a normal position of suspension and may exert an influence to pivotally move the same in a direction reverse to the direction of its displacement when said gyroscope is occupying a displaced position relatively to its normal position of suspension.

3. In a gyroscopic apparatus,agyroscope adapted to be rotated by the application thereto of a gaseous fiuidunder pressure, a pivoted support bearing said gyroscope, means whereby a gaseous fluid under pressure may be directed against said gyroscope for rotating the same, and means for controlling the application of such pressure to the gyroscope for rotating it whereby it may be in balanced relationship to said gyroscope when said gyroscope 1s occupying its normal suspended position and 1n unbalanced relationship thereto when said gyroscope has become displaced from its normal position for returning it to said position.

4. In a gyroscopic apparatus, a' yroscope adaptedto be rotated the app ication thereto of a gaseous fluid under pressure, a pivoted support bearing said gyroscope,*means whereby a gaseous fluid under pressure may be applied to said gyroscope in separate jets on opposite sidesthereof for rotating the same, said jets being opposite in direction and in balanced relationship to one another and said gyroscope and a exerting no turning movement thereon when said gyroscope is occupying a normal position of suspension, and means for controlling said jets whereby one or the'other thereof may become throttled upon said gyroscope occupying a position of suspension displaced from its normal position and the jet remaining operate to both rotate said gyroscope and exert a turning movement thereon for returning it to its normal position of suspension when both jets may again become operative.

5. In a gyroscopic apparatus,-a gyroscope adapted .to be rotated bythe application thereto of a gaseous fluid under pressure, a pivoted support bearing said gyroscope,

-means whereby a gaseous fluid under pressure may be applied to said gyroscope inseparate jets for rotating the same and said jets be applied to the gyroscope on opposite sides thereof to issue in opposite di .rections' and transverse a plane coincident with the axis of suspension of said gyroscope and also its mm of rotation, and

, means for controlling said jets to exert a balanced turningmovem'ent upon said gyroscope or an unbalanced turning movement thereon dependent upon the position of its suspension.

6. In a gyroscopic apparatus, a gyroscope, a pivoted support therefor, nozzles arranged adjacent said gyroscope and disposed on opposite sides thereof and on opposite sides also of a plane passing through the axis of suspension of said gyroscope and also its axis of rotation, sa d nozzles being also arranged to direct the gaseous fluid issuing therefrom against said gyroscope in opposite directions and transverse said plane, a casing through which said gaseous ranged to direct the gaseous fiuid' issuing.

therefrom against said gyroscope in opposite direotions andtransvers'e said plane, a casing through which said gaseous 'fluid is directed to pass to said nozzles, a valvular mechanism inside said casing for controlling the fiow of fluid to said nozzles, and

means for controlling said valvular mecha nism, the same comprising in part a device carried by said pivoted support and adapt ed to maintain a constant position of suspension irrespective of the pivotally turned position of said support.

JAMES s. LANG. Witnesses JOHN E. R. HAYES, M. E. FLAHERTY.

copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

' Washington, D. G."

fluid is directed to pass to said nozzles, a 

